Chris Capuano's 35th birthday was last Monday. His teenage days in West Springfield, many of them spent watching the Red Sox play at Fenway Park, were long ago replaced by the reality of trying to stay healthy and get fellow big leaguers out.

On Sunday night at Dodger Stadium, Capuano will be the Los Angeles starter on national TV. The left-hander's opponent will be Boston, a team he has never faced in 233 big league games.

"It's kind of funny I've never faced them before,'' said Capuano, a 1996 Cathedral High School graduate whose four big league teams have all played in the National League.

"We're focused on getting into the playoffs, but yeah, it is special for me.''

Capuano reached the majors in 2003, but he has never pitched in the postseason. The Dodgers seem destined to make it.

Their recent 42-8 stretch was the sport's best 50-game surge in 71 years, and gave them command of the NL West.

"It's been up and down. It was tough at the start, because we had so many good pitchers,'' he said.

On a team with eight starters and five rotation spots, Capuano seemed destined for either a trade to another team or a bullpen role he really didn't want. The trade of Aaron Harang and a string of injuries put him back in the rotation.

"In half the games, I've been good at getting ahead of the hitters, but it's been a tough year to sustain momentum. I'm working on that,'' said Capuano, who is 4-6 with a 4.70 ERA.

Getting ahead in the count will be crucial Sunday. The grinding Red Sox hitting style relies on running up pitch counts, which depends on help from the opposing pitcher.

Capuano could not easily compare the Red Sox style to that of any National League opponent.

"I got a pretty good scouting report, watching Andy Pettitte pitch a pretty good game against them,'' said Capuano, who referred to the New York left-hander's efficient work in a 10-3 Yankees victory on Aug. 16.

Each incident landed him on the disabled list. Capuano's most recent start was Tuesday, when he allowed three runs and six hits in five innings of a no-decision at Miami.

Capuano has faced several Red Sox players before - Jonny Gomes with Cincinnati, Stephen Drew with Arizona and Mike Napoli in interleague play. Shane Victorino was an opponent with Philadelphia and a teammate for part of 2012 in Los Angeles.

Capuano will even look at a scouting report on Jake Peavy, who will face him Sunday. Peavy has extensive hitting experience from his San Diego years.

"We don't spend a lot of time scouting the other pitcher's hitting, but we look at it. The main thing is to attack them with strikes - you see a lot of times when a pitcher is cruising, and when the other pitcher comes up, he suddenly can't throw a strike for some reason,'' Capuano said.

Capuano has mixed feelings about facing the Red Sox in Los Angeles, not Fenway Park.

"It would be nice to pitch in such an iconic stadium, where I grew up watching a lot of games,'' he said.

"Maybe it's better to face them (in LA), though. That way, it won't be such a big deal, plus we're home.''

Questioned for their team chemistry last season, the Dodgers have become united and nearly unbeatable.

"It seemed to turn when (rookie) Yasiel Puig joined us. He'll look like an All-Star on some plays, but then he'll airmail a cutoff throw or make a mistake on the bases - but there is no question he brings a different kind of energy to the team.''

Even shortstop Hanley Ramirez, know for years as a moody star, has become a positive influence.

"He's healthy now, for one thing, and even when he was hurt, he was cheering on the other guys. He's been a great teammate,'' Capuano said.

In September of 2011, the Red Sox considered trading for Capuano, who was then with the New York Mets. Ten years after breaking into the majors, 17 years after leaving West Springfield for college and in his 234th game, he will finally face the team he watched as a child.

"I'm looking forward to it, but at this point in my career, you have to approach it as you would any other start,'' he said.